#DS3Unscripted #BelayaxPierce #LKCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 31: CLOSE

BELAYA'S POV

"Akala ko ba detective kayo? Eh bakit hindi niyo siya mahanap?"

Humaba ang nguso ni Trace na abala sa laptop niya dahil sa sinabi ni Lucienne. Si Domino na katabi niya ay napapakamot naman sa ulo nang tumingin din sa kaniya ang babae at pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata. She's like a supervisor scolding her team.

"Hindi naman gano'n kasi kadali iyon. Para ngang hindi nag e-exist ang taong pinapahanap ni Belaya. Facebook account lang niya ang meron siya na social media pero kahit 'yon apat na taon na niyang hindi nabubuksan," paliwanag ni Trace.

"Do something. Nakasalalay dito ang ikagaganda ng buhay niyo."

Kumunot ang noo ng lalaki. "Bakit?"

"Pierce is already the second broodiest brother that you have. Una ro'n si Gun though he mellowed out a bit what with being happily married to Lia. Pero si Pierce magiging sakit ng ulo niyo. Hindi pa siya bad mood suplado na siya paano pa kapag mainit ang ulo niya dahil may pinagdadaanan siya?"

Humaba ulit ang nguso ni Trace sa sinabi ni Lucienne at bumubulong-bulong na pinagpatuloy niya ang ginagawa.

Sandaling nawala sa kanila ang atensyon ko nang malingunan ko ang manager ko na si Sebastian na palapit sa amin. May kausap siya sa cellphone kaya basta na lang niya inabot sa akin ang dala niya na paper bag bago siya muling tumalikod para ipagpatuloy ang pagkausap sa kung sinuman na nasa kabilang linya.

Binigay ko ang paper bag kay Lucienne na masayang kinuha iyon sa akin at inilabas ang mga pagkain na pina-deliver niya kanina. Nang makuha niya ang sa kaniya ay ibinigay niya ang lalagyanan kaila Trace.

"Hindi ka talaga kakain?" tanong sa akin ng babae.

"I already ate. Saka baka madumihan ko pa ang damit ko," may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na sabi ko.

I'm wearing a linen cream kimono top with a rope belt and a mix of cream and sienna free flowing wrap pants skirt. It's one of my wardrobe for Virago.

We're on the set for the photo shoot of the series. Next week we'll be starting to film some of the easy location scenes. Ang sabi sa akin ni Sebastian, years in the making na raw talaga ang series. Matagal na rin nakuha ang project na ito sa nagsulat pero hindi talaga naging madali ang proseso para ihanda nila ang mga kakailanganin nila. Now with the cast complete, filming na lang talaga ang kinakailangan intindihin ng production team.

Napatigil si Lucienne na kakagat na sana sa hawak niya na burger at napatingin doon. "Ay iyong bayad ko nga pala sa pina-deliver ko."

"It's okay. Nabayaran naman na ni Sebastian."

"Sana all may manager."

"Aanhin mo naman ang manager eh hindi ka naman lumalabas ng bahay?" nang-aasar na tanong ni Trace.

"Nasa labas ako ng bahay ngayon."

Napailing na lang ako sa kanila. Si Domino lang naman kasi talaga ang dapat kasama ko ngayon. I've been staying with him in his condo for almost a week now. Nang malaman ni Lucienne na may photo shoot ako today ay tinanong niya ako kung pwede raw ba siyang sumama dahil hindi pa raw siya nakakakita ng photo shoot para sa TV series sa personal.

Thorn allowed it since Lia told them that she can take care of Cookie. Bibisita din kasi si Damian at si Savannah sa kanila. Savannah grew fond of Cookie so it's not a trouble for them. Bukod pa ro'n ay nagpresinta naman si Trace na sasamahan si Lucienne kaya pumayag na rin si Thorn.

"Ang pogi naman."

Sinundan ko ang direksyon ng mga mata ni Lucienne at napangiti ako nang makita ko na si Caleb Riley ang tinitignan niya. The one who will be playing Caliber for this drama and my character, Sariah's, love interest.

Caleb is already wearing his wardrobe. For a man who has pants as a costume and an open knee length vest for almost the entirety of the series ay siya ang pinakamatagal na ayusan. Kailangan pa kasing ipinta sa katawan niya ng mga tato na parte ng karakter niya. Mas nauna siya sa akin dito sa set pero katatapos niya lang maayusan.

My stylist was done with me thirty minutes ago. Natural makeup at half-up french braid lang naman ang ayos ko. Curling my hair took look since I have a lot of it and my hair is long but Caleb has been with the makeup team for about fours hours now.

"Ang pogi rin no'ng isa. Di ba kasama mo iyon sa A Lust To Last?" tanong ni Lucienne.

"Yes. That's Samuel Lorenzo. Isa rin siya sa love interest ng character ko."

"Isa? So meaning may isa pa."

Tinuro ko ang nauna niyang tinignan na lalaki. "Caleb's the other one."

"Gupitan natin buhok mo 'te. Naaapakan ko na. Ayoko pa naman may karibal sa pang iinggit kay Rapunzel pagdating sa long hair ko."

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. This is one of the reason that I don't mind that she's here. It's so natural to laugh when she's around.

My attention went to Domino when he sighed loudly. Parang gusto na niyang durugin ang laptop niya na lagi niya ng kasama mula nang mapunta ako sa poder niya. May hiningi ako kasi sa kaniya na pabor na hindi niya naman magawang tanggihan.

"It's okay Domino. You can take your time," I told him with a small smile.

I know that he can hear what those words cost me. Kasi hindi naman iyon talaga ang gusto ko. If I can resolve this in a day, I would do it, because there's nothing else that I want more but to go back to the man that I know that is waiting for me.

I wasn't lying when I told Pierce that I just need a little time. That's what I really need. Kaunting panahon lang. The moment that we separated that day I know for sure what I really want, and yet it also strengthen the need to do what I know is right.

I want to wake up with him near me. I want to see the smile on his face. I want to hear his voice. I want to look at him when I'm babbling about things that doesn't involve him but still he'll listen as if it's the most important thing in the world. I want to see the look on his face whenever I tease him or the way his smile will turn smug when he's the one doing the teasing.

Marami akong gusto na alam ko na siya lang ang makakapagbigay. But we need time. I need time. We need it so that we could start in a way that is right; with a blank slate.

"Bakit kaya hindi kayo gumamit ng Google image search no'ng nag-iisa niyang picture? Malay niyo na-post pa sa ibang social media account," mungkahi ni Lucienne.

"We're already using Dagger's search engine software. Nasa itaas ang kalidad nito-"

Hindi na natapos ni Trace ang sasabihin nang basta na lang hinarap ni Lucienne sa kaniya ang laptop at nagpipindot doon. "Alam mo ba kung ilang pictures ang meron ako na ginagamit kong inspirasyon sa mga nobela ko? Minsan napupulot ko lang sa Pinterest iyon at kakaunti lang ang impormasyon na meron do'n. Para mahanap ko sila, Google image search lang ang ginagamit ko. May mga bagay na hindi na kailangan gawing kumplikado."

"It's not that easy. Pustahan hindi mo makikita ang pinapahanap ni Belaya."

Umangat ang isang kilay ni Lucienne. "Huwag mong subukan ang suwerte ko. Sa dami ng kamalasan ko sa buhay ang dami ng utang sa akin ng tadhana kaya puro suwerte lang ang binibigay sa akin ngayon. Last week nga nanalo pa ako sa grocery store ng microwave eh. For sure kapag nag go-grocery ka battery lang ang napapanalunan mo sa mga raffle do'n."

Mariin na itinikom ni Trace ang mga labi niya at binigyan niya ng masamang tingin ang babae. Base sa reaksyon niya ay mukhang tama si Lucienne.

"Kapag nanalo ako magiging assistant kita sa loob ng isang linggo," nakahalukipkip na sabi ni Trace.

"Kapag nanalo ako, magiging assistant kita at opisina mo ang gagamitin ko."

"Deal."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Domino. Parehas naming alam na dehado si Lucienne dahil kahit ano pa ang sabihin niya ay detective pa rin si Trace at parte ito ng trabaho niya. Sa tingin ko ay kung nahihirapan sila na makita ang pinapahanap ko ay mahihirapan lalo si Lucienne.

"See? Hindi gumagana ang image search."

"Huwag kang maingay diyan. Basta ang usapan kailangan ko lang mahanap," sabi ni Lucienne na kunot na kunot ang noo habang tumitipa sa laptop ni Trace. "Familiar ang mukha niya. Hindi ko lang matandaan kung saan ko nakita."

"I doubt that."

"Shh!"

Base na rin sa paglalim ng kunot ng noo niya ay mukhang imposible nga ang ginagawa niya. Nakangusong inagaw ni Trace ang laptop pabalik at akmang magrereklamo pa sana si Lucienne nang matigilan siya at napatingin kung saan.

"Dagdagan natin ang pustahan natin," tulalang sabi ni Lucienne.

"Sigurado ka? Mamaya isumbong mo pa ako kay Kuya kapag natalo kita."

"Kapag nanalo ako ikaw ang magbabayad ng lahat ng COD ko sa Shopee na dadating this week."

"Kapag ako ang nanalo ililibre mo ako ng lunch everyday hanggang next week. May recording ng album si Lia next week. Hindi 'yon magluluto."

"Call. Since nahanap ko na ang taong gustong makita ni Belaya."

"Anong-"

Naputol ang sasabihin ni Trace nang umangat ang kamay ni Lucienne at may tinuro. My head snapped to the direction of her finger and my eyes widened at what I saw. Napatayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin ako sa taong akala ko matatagalan pa akong mahanap.

"What the hell!" Domino exclaimed.

He's really here. I don't know how and why... but he's here.

As if feeling my stare, the man's eyes went to me. Cedric, Jhonas, and Joe are talking to him but just like me... he couldn't keep his eyes away. Animo may sariling isip ang mga paa ko na kusa ang mga iyon na gumalaw patungo sa direksyon niya. Naramdaman kong sumunod sa akin si Domino pero nanatiling nasa iisang tao ang buong pokus ko.

When I got close to them somehow there's a scent that hit me that I should have processed that moment. Pero okupado ang buong pagkatao ko sa iisang bagay lang.

"Oh here she is," nakangiting sabi ni Cedric nang makita ako. "Belaya this is the author of Virago."

"We've met," I whispered.

Nahihiyang napakamot sa batok ang lalaki na tinutukoy ni Cedric bago niya inabot ang kamay niya sa akin. Nanlalamig ang akin na inabot ko iyon. "J.V. Lindsay but you can call me-"

"Tristan Donovan."

MARAHANG hinaplos ko ang katawan ng itim na kabayo na nasa harapan ko. Raven is a patient and gentle horse but I know horses usually can feel the emotion of the rider. I don't want her to dislodge me later because of the turmoil of feelings that have been circling around me.

Huminga ako ng malalim at nagpatuloy ako sa ginagawa. I don't think the horse that will accompany me for a long time in this series mind it. Mukhang nagugustuhan pa nga niya ang ginagawa ko.

"I'm sorry if I did something to upset you."

My hand freeze and I turned to the direction of the voice. The familiar kind face greeted me.

I wanted to see him. I needed to see him. Akala ko madali na lang kung anong gagawin ko kapag nakita ko siya. I thought the hardest part would be finding him.

I promised my family I wouldn't. Alam ko kung ano ang kinakatakot nila. They don't want me to look for him because of the reason that isn't right. But this time... I'm not looking for him just because he has the heart of the man that I once loved... the man that I will always love.

"You didn't," I told him. I looked back at Raven. "I'm not upset."

"Kinausap ako ng bodyguard mo. He said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes."

Tahimik na nakatingin lang siya sa akin na para bang hinihintay niya ang susunod ko na sasabihin. Napapabuntong-hininga na humarap ako sa kaniya.

I need to do this. This is the right thing to do... for all of us. This is not me wanting to see him because he's connected to the man that will always be part of my life.

This time I need to find him so that I could be free.

"You're Tristan Donovan." Nagtataka man sa panimula ko ay tumango siya. "You had a heart transplant right?"

"I did..."

"I know the person who gave you that heart."

Bumakas ang pagkabigla sa mga mata niya pero pagkaraan ay napalitan iyon ng pang-unawa. I know he's remembering the night that we met. How I called him the name of the man that isn't him.

"I need to talk to you. Hindi dito. But it's really important that you hear me out."

"I understand."

"I... I just need a few moment of your time. I know that this is not right. Hindi mo responsibilidad na pakinggan ako. Hindi mo kailangan malaman kung ano ang kailangan ko sa iyo. We don't know each other but I need... I really need your help."

I know he could hear the desperation in my voice and the pain that goes with it. His eyes went soft and he nodded. "It's okay with me. It's not a problem."

"I just-"

"I told you when we first me that I'm a fan. My readers know that I'm your fan. When the management told me that you'll be the main lead for this series, I was overjoyed. Honestly I don't think my books are that big of a deal for someone like you to be cast for it. I already owe you for doing this."

"Your books are worth more than you think they are. I hate playing for TV series because they usually drag the story and it's painfully long. But Cedric and Joe have no plans on stretching the story more than fifteen episodes because they don't want to ruin your story line. You don't owe me anything. Maganda ang storya mo."

"We can agree to disagree," he said with a kind smile and a shrug of his shoulders. "If you sign my books consider it as a payment for your favor."

Despite the situation, my lips quirked at that. Nagkibit-balikat din ako bilang sagot at muli kong hinarap si Raven na bahagyang dinunggol ang kamay ko na para bang sinasabi na ipagpatuloy ko ang ginagawa ko.

"Why J.V. Lindsay?" I asked when I started patting the back of the horse again.

"J is for Janina, my sister. V is my father Victor and Linday is my mom." Nang tila may naalala ay napangiti siya. "My family likes you. Halos ata lahat ng mga pelikula mo napanood na naming lahat. Lalo na iyong mga ginawa mo noong bata ka pa. My mom worked in the US for a while and when she's there gusto niyang manood ng mga Tagalog movie kasi na ho-homesick siya. Lagi niyang nakikita iyong mga pelikula mo na pinapalabas sa Filipino channel doon. Specially those you had with your love team-"

Kasabay nang tila paninigas ng katawan ko ang bigla niyang pagkatigilan. I can hear the thoughts running around his head and when I turned to look at him I can see the evident shock in his face. I know he's putting it together. How intertwine our fates are and how connected we really are.

How Jackson died wasn't a secret. It's been too long since he was mentioned but I know right now he's remembering. The name that I said that night and why it's important for me to have the chance to talk to him.

Alam ko na nagagawa na niyang maintindihan kung ano ang kailangan ko sa kaniya. He might not get it fully but I know that he can feel what I needed from him.

I opened the Pandora's box again and inside it I found hope; the last thing left inside the box. But I also need to return those that escaped so that I could finally let it all go. So that it will no longer be the weight trying to crush me.

Because in this life, I was fortunate enough to be gifted two kinds of love that might not be the same but both weigh as much. Klase ng pagmamahal na hindi kailangan maging magkatulad. There's no competition... there's no limit. Hindi kailangan maging pantay para masabing tunay.

I need to put all the pain back to where it came from so that I could finally face hope.

I need to do it so that I could close the box forever and lock the pain away. So that for once... only love will remain and the reminder of the touch of happiness that once crossed my life.